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Show 456 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON CONTINENTAL MENAGERIES. [June5, June 5, 1894. Sir W. H. FLOWER, K.C.B., LL.D., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of M a y :- The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of M a y were 112 in number. Of these 54 were acquired by presentation, 28 by purchase, 2 by exchange, 8 were born in the Gardens, and 20 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 99. Mr. Sclater offered some remarks on the animals he had noticed in the Zoological Gardens of Eotterdam, Amsterdam, Hanover, Berlin, and Hamburg, which he had recently visited. At Eotterdam the Jackdaws had effected an entrance through the wide meshes of the net that covered the large Aviary, and had somewhat disturbed the breeding birds. But the colony of Wild Herons outside (cf. P. Z. S. 1892, p. 471) was still thriving, and consisted of 28 nests. Amongst the Mammals at Eotterdam one of the greatest interest was a beautiful male example of the Bush-loving Antelope (Cephalophus sylvicultrix) from Congo-land (cf. P. Z. S. 1892, p. 471), presented by Heer A. de Bloema on the 25th May, 1891, now quite adult, and of about 2 ft. 8 in. high. Mr. Sclater exhibited a water-colour drawing by Mr. Keulemans representing this animal. The Gardens of the Eoyal Zoological Society of Amsterdam were in their usual flourishing condition, the series of Cranes and Storks being, as in former years, of special excellence. The herd of the beautiful Antelope Tragelaphus grains (cf. P. Z. S. 1892, p. 471) now consisted of seven examples, and an additional male having been imported there was every reason to hope that this fine Antelope (see P. Z. S. 1883, pi. viii.) would become thoroughly acclimatized in Europe. One of the hot-water tanks in the Eeptile House contained seven living examples of the Surinam Toad (Pipa americana), which Mr. Sclater had never seen alive before. They appeared to keep entirely in the water, in which they swam about freely. In the Zoological Garden of Hanover (now under the direction of Dr. Ernst Schaff) Mr. Sclater had seen several interesting Antelopes, amongst which were examples of Hippotragus equinus, Bubcdis caama, and both species of Gnu. He had also obtained there for the Society specimens of both the European species of Marten, which were now rather difficult to procure. The Zoological Garden at Berlin (now under the direction of Dr. Heck) contained an excellent series both of Mammals and Birds, and a large new Aviary was in process of erection. Here a pair of Giraffes were still to be found ; and examples of the Zebra from German East Africa, lately described by Heir Matschie |
